Pressure-operated regulator



March 18, 1930. E. J. DILLMAN 1,751,193

PRESSURE OPERATED REGULATOR Filed D80. 11. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l W %VENTOR ATTOENEY March 18, 1930. E. J. DILLMAN 1,751,193

PRESSURE OPERATED REGULATOR Filed D90. 11. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIZA\\ INVEN TOR 6W}, $06M Patented Mar. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE EARNEST J. DILLMAN, OF KENMORE, IIIEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSE PRESSURE-OPERATED REGULATOR Application filed December 11, 1926. Serial No. 154,262,

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in pressure-operated regulators, and more particularly to that type of regulator for controlling dampers on steam heating boilers or the like.

An object of my invention is to provide a regulator which is easily adjustable and which is sensitive, operating through its complete range of movement in response to a predetermined initial pressure.

Another object is to construct a regulator havin a minimum number of movable arts.

A further object is to provide a device so constructed that the energy stored in the is pressure responsive means is compensated by operation of the device.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts, to be more fully described hereinafter, and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have fully and clearly illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, to be taken as a part of this specification, and wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view of my improved regulator shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a partial plan View of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end view with parts broken away to better show the construction, and

Fig. i is a detail view.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 1 designates a hollow, metallic casing or body, which is cup-shaped, having a cylindrical side wall 2 and a substantially flat. circular bottom 3. The side wall 2 and the bottom 3 are preferably formed integral,-

as shown, and may be of sheet-metal or, if desired, of cast-metal. The center portion .0 of the bottom 3 is provided with an opening 4- for the admission of a pressure medium to the interior of the casing 1. Surrounding the opening 4 is a flan e 5 depending from said bottom, and to which is secured, preferably by welding, a nipple 6 having external threads on its free end 7. The bottom of the casin g may also have a plurality of integrally formed, radially extending reenforcing ribs 8, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, in order to stiffen the same, particularly if made of sheet-metal.

The cylindrical side wall 2 of the casing is provided near its upper edge with an out wardly projecting shoulder 9, on which rests the circumferential edge of a supporting and closure ring'lO and superposed thereon and overlying the same, and also supported by the shoulder 9 is a cover or cap member 11 for the casing. The portion 12 of-the side wall which extends upwardly from the shoulder 9 is bent back uponitself and over the cap member 11 to form a gas and fluidtight joint between the periphery of the ring member 10 and the side-wall 2 of the casing 1. The central portion of the cap member 11 is dished downwardly to form .a coneshaped cavity 13, and a hole 14 is cut through the apex thereof. The cover or cap member 11 hasa pair of lugs 15extending upwardly therefrom. These lugs lie in planes substantiallysparallel to each other and to a vertical plane through a diameter of the cover. Each of these lugs 15 is provided with a bearing opening 16 toreceive the rocker bearing pin 17 p of a rocker member to be described. 1 V

The supporting rin 10 has fixed thereto along its inner edge 18 and depending there- RADIATOR from, a pressure-responsive, expansible contractible member 19, which I have chosen tobellows which obtains when the limits of its working length are on opposite sides ofits neutral position in which its condition'is inert, and so that in operation it will have an expanded and a contracted, as well as an intermediate neutral position. WVhen the pressure-responsive member or bellows 19 is in neutral position, that is, not under either tension or compression, the bellows head 20, which is preferably integral with the side wall, will be adjacent to but spaced from the base 3 of the casing, as shown in Fig. 1.

Within the casing 1 and in engagement with and fixed to the head to move therewith, is a rigid strengthening and supporting plate 21, which is fixed in place by rolling the circumferential edge of the boss or head 20 over the periphery of said plate. A. motion transmitting member in the form, preferably, of a stem or plunger rod 22, is mount ed for slight lateral play inan opening 21 at the center of the supporting plate 21 and is fixed therein by head 22*, whereby it may be adjusted to align opening and pin 31, and projects upwardly therefrom through the opening 14 in the apex of the concavity 13 in the cover 11. A: limiting device in the form preferably of a stop pin 23 is passed through the stem 22 and is adapted to engage the cover 11 to limit the upward movement of the stem and thecompressionor collapse of thebellows.

The upper or free end .of the stem 22 is flattened atdiametrically opposite points to provide parallel bearing surfaces 2%, and has a transverse opening 25 therethrough' for a stem. bearing pin 31, which is suitably held against endwise. movement by a cotter-pin 31 V The rocker member 26, in the preferred form illustrated, is substantially inverted V- 7 ing pin 31. The rocker member 26 is so mountshaped in side elevation (see Fig. 1), is substantially inverted U-sha-ped in end view (see Fig. 3), and hasjournal bearings :27, 28, respectively, in the ends of the pairs of legs 29, 30. The journal bearings 27 are pivoted on the rocker bearing pin 17 above described,

; and the ournal bearings 28 laterally abut the surfaces 24 and are mounted on the stem beared that it will rock freely on the pin 17 in response to movement transmitted by the stem 22 from the bellows head 20, and is, in effect, a simple bell-crank lever. Downward movement of the bellows head 20, or clockwise movement of the rocker member 26, is per-.

mitted by legs 30 working in the cone-shaped concavity-13 in the cover 11. The side members or legs of this rocker member are provided with shoulders 32, preferably at substantially half the height of said rocker mem her, which shoulders support a rectangular *38, adapted to receive chains, or other suitable draft or damper operating means.

Control members, preferably weights 39,

4-0, in the form of metal balls, are mounted on the lever at either side of the rocker member force exertd by 26. It will be noted that the centers ofweight of these balls are located substantially above the longitudinal center line of'the lever 36, so

that the location of the center of weight of V the combined rocker member, lever, and weights will be at a desired predetermined height above the bearing pin 17, which lastmentioned center of weight will be referred to hereinafter. The distance in height of this center of weight above the rocker bearing pin" V The distance which the center of weight is 7 moved during the operation from a vertical plane through the longitudinal axis of the rocker bearing pin 17 will determine'the length of the lever arm through which the center of weight acts, and the momentof quent greater variation in the downward the weights 39, 40 upon the I stem bearing pin 31 'and'bellows head 20.

moment of force exerted on the stem bearing pin 31 by the weights 39,40 for a given movement of the bellows head.

The bellows not only serves as a sealing means for the casing 1, but also possesses the qualities of a spring, having an inherent re silience, due to the metal of which it is made and the deep circumferential corrugations 37 in its side walls, so that it seeks to return to a normal, static, or inert position when either expanded or collapsed from that position. A determinable potential will therefore be built up in the bellows for a given movement of the bellows head, whether it results in expansion or compression of the bellows from the normal or inert position. The distance which the head 20 is movedwill govern the distance which the center of weight is moved, and will be in proportion to the ratio above set forth. It is then'evident that. if this ratio be four to three, which I have found to be preferable, that the ratio of I the distance the center of weight is moved, to the distancethe head 20 or stem bearing pin- 31 ismoved in either direction in so moving the center of weight, will be the reciprocal ratio, namely, three to four.

Reference to Fig. t illustrates the ratios and proportions above defined. In the similar triangles m and ;2 which are established by movement of the bellows head, is the following proportiona:b and.

:".l16ld 20 within the casing 1,

In order that the potential energy stored in the bellows may be compensated, and the system maintained in balance for all positions of the bellows head when the above preferred ratio is employed, it is clear that if a variation in either increase or decrease of external force of substantially two pounds exerted on the bellows head will vary the length of the bellows vertically one-quarter of an inch, the center of weight will be moved a horizontal distance of one-third of an inch, and if the dis tance Z) is one and one-half inches the resulting ratio of the distance between the pivots 17 and 31 to the distance the center of weight is moved, is nine to two, and the weight necessary to exert the required downward force to maintain equilibrium is therefore theoretically nine pounds, but in practice would be slightly more when the friction of the bearing pins is considered.

The device having been assembled as shown in Fig. 1, the nipple 6 is connected to suitable pressure transfer means, such as a pipe from a boiler or other pressure source (not shown), and the lever 36 is operatively connected by chains, or other means, to the damper controls of a heater (not shown) for the boiler. The balls 39, 40 are first adjusted when the pressure within casing 1 is atmospheric, so that the center of weight of the balls 39, 40, the lever 36 and the rocker member 26 will be directly over the rocker bearing pin 17. A clockwise movement of the rocker member will extend the bellows and cause the balls 39, 40, due to shifting of the center of weight toward the right of Fig. 1, to exert a downward moment of force on rod 22 which will be substantially equal to the upward force of the potential stored in the bellows caused by 5 ch extension, and the system will be in equilibrium. The same will be true if the rocker member be rotated counterclockwise, although it is evident that the bellows, due to its compression, would be exerting a downward force on the stem bearing pin. Ball 39 may now be fixed in position by screw eye 41 and ball 40 moved very slightly "to the right or toward its end of lever 36 until the downward force exerted by the weights upon the bellows head 20 through the stem 22 is just suiiicient to extend the bellows to the base 3 of the casing, at which point said ball 40 may be fixed to the lever by screw eye 42.

When the predetermined low pressure has been reached in the boiler at which the device is to operate, the upward force of the pres sure on the bellows head 20 plus the inherent tendency of the bellows to collapse, will be equal to the downward moment of force exerted by the weights 39, e0. Any slight increase of pressure'in the boiler sufficient to overcome the friction of the moving parts which may now be exerted upon the bellows will cause an initial movement of the bellows head and counterclockwise movement of the rocker member 26. Any movement'of the rocker member will, however, decrease the lever arm 0 on which the center of weight of balls 39, to acts, and due to the ratio above set forth will also decrease the downwardforce. of the weights on the bellows head against which the pressure acts, and this decrease will therefore, in effect, resultin excess, pressure upwardly on the bellows head 20,and the bellows will be collapsed to neutral or inert position with the center of weight substantially over pin 17. Due to the change in the position of the effec tive force of the weights, i. e., the center of weight as it passes to the left of pin 17, the

resistance which. the bellows, due to its inherent resihency, normally exerts against compression, is substantially counterbalanced or compensated, and the initial pressure on the bellows head which will start movement of the weights 39, 40, and damper control chains, will move the whole device through its complete range of movement. It is of course understood that a drop in pressure below that which has operated the device as above described, will cause the reverse operation of the device and result in extension of the bellows through its complete range of movement, reversing the movement of the damper control chains and placing the device in its original status.

My invention is particularly directed to ob taining compensation at low boiler pressures, and I have described its use for low pressure boilers when the maximum high pressure is to be substantially five pounds; but it may also be used for higher pressures if desired.

In addition to its use as a pressure regu-' later, it is, of course, well understood that shifting of wei ht 89 minutelytoward the left from the position of equilibrium, i. e., atmospheric pressure on bellows head 20 and center of weight directly over pin 17,that the device will become a vacuum regulator having all of the characteristics of my pressure regulator above described.

Although I have described my invention in the required pressure on the bellows head for actuation of the device.

Vihat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a device of the character described, a casing, a pivoted rocker member, a resilient pressure-responsive element .in said casing having a static condition, means operatively' connecting said element to said rocker member to rock said member, a weighted operating member carried by said rocker member and opposing operation of said element, the distance between the pivotal point of said rocker member and the point of connection between said element and rocker member, and the distance between said pivotal point and thecenter of weight of said operating member when said element is in static con dition' being such that the system is in substantial equilibrium for all'increases or decreases ofpotential energy stored in said pressure-responsive element due to movement of said pressure-responsive element.

2. In a device of the character described, a hollow casing, resilient, pressure-responsive means within said casing, asupport having a fulcrum, a rocker member pivoted on said fulcrum, means to impart movement from said resilient means to said rocker member, and weight means on said rocker member, the ratio of the distance 'of' the center of weight of'said weight means above said fulcrum to the distance between said fulcrum and said means to impart movement, being substantially as .four to three, so that any change in the potential energy of the resilient means is substantially compensated by the movement of said weight means whereby the wholeforceex'erted externally on said resilient vmeans operates independently of the resilience of said resilient means to move said rocker member. i

3. In a-device of the character described,

acasing, a pressure responsive element in.

said casing, a rocker member pivoted on the casing, said member comprising substantially parallel opposite spaced members pivoted on the casing, said members being operatively connected to said element, said members having shoulders, a plate supported on said shoulders and havin an aperture through which. the upper portion of said rocker member projects, and an operating member supported on said plate and between the spaced members of said rocker member.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a casing of sheet material having a bottom wall and an enclosing side wall extending upward therefrom, said side wall having a lateral outward extending surroundingflange adjacent its upper edge, a'

supporting member overlying said bottom wall and resting along its periphery on said flange, said member having a substantially circular aperture therethrough substantially concentricwith the longitudinal axis of said casing, a resilient expansible-collapsible corrugated substantially cylindrical element sealed at one end to said member along the periphery of the circular aperture and depending therefrom into said casing, the other end of said element terminating adjacent to but spaced from said bottom wall and having a head closing and sealing said other end, said side wall above" said flange being bent over inwardly to tightly clamp said supporting member to said flange to seal said supporting member to said side wall, a rocker member having a fulcrum support on said casing, a plunger member rigidly fixed to said head to move therewith, and means operatively connecting said plunger member member overlying said bottom wall and rest- 7 ing along its periphery on said flange, said member having a substantially circular aper ture therethrough substantially concentric with the longitudinal axis of said casing, a resilient eXpansible-collapsible corrugated substantially cylindrical element sealed at one end to said member along the periphery of the circular aperture and depending therefrom into said casing, the other end of said element terminating adjacent to but spaced 7 from said bottom wall and having a head closing and sealing said other end, a cap member closing said casing and resting along its periphery on said supporting member over said flange, said side wall above said flange being bent inward onto the periphery of said cap member to tightly clamp said cap member and said supporting member to sald flange to seal said supporting member hermetically to said sidewall, a rocker member havlng a fulcrum support on said eas ing and having operative connection with said head, weight means carried by said rocker member, and an inlet through said bottom wall for the admission of actuating fluid under pressure.

6. A device of the character described, comprising a casing having a bottom wall and an enclosing side wall extending upward therefrom, said side wall having a lateral outward extending flange adjacent its upper edge, a supporting member overlying said bottom wall and resting along its periphery on said flange, said member having a substantially circular aperture therethrough substantially concentric with the longitudinal axis of said casing, a resilient eXpansible-collapsible corrugated substantially cylindrical element sealed at one end to said member along the periphery of the circular aperture and dependlng therefrom lnto said casing, the other end of said element terminating adjacent to but spaced from said bottom wall and having a head closing and sealing said other end, means tightly clamping said support ng member to sa1d flange to seal said supporting member to said side wall, a rocker member having a. fulcrum support on said casing, a reinforcing disc within said element and having a central aperture, the side wall of said element being bent over said disc to secure said disc rigidly to said head, a plunger member secured in said aperture and extending upward within said element, and means operatively connecting said plunger member and said rocker member.

7. A device of the character described, comprising a resilient element having a neutral position and having a movable end wall with an operative range of movement and forming a wall of a pressure chamber, a ful- 4 crum support, weight means fulcrumed on said support and operatively engaging said end wall whereby movement of said end wall will shift the center of weight of said weight means, the horizontal distance from the point at which the weight means engages said end 0 wall to the fulcrum support, the horizontal distance of the center of weight of said weight means from said fulcrum support, and the vertical distance of the center of weight above the fulcrum support being predetermined distances such that for all positions of said end wall in its operative range of movement the ratio of the weight of said weight means to the inherent resilient force of said element is equal to the ratio of the first-named distance to the second-named distance whereby the system is balanced for all positions in its operative range of movement.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name. EARNEST J. DILLMAN. 

